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In this episode, Roy talks with Catholic musician, speaker, and author Chris Padgett. Chris uses storytelling, comedy, and music to bring his unique take on the Gospel to an international audience.

Chris has written six books on a variety of topics, including marriage, the Eucharist, and Marian spirituality. Chris is also an accomplished musician with a number of albums to his credit.

Roy and Chris discuss a range of topics, including how Chris' experiences as a teen influence his ministry today, current trends among young people and in youth ministry, and Chris' message for adults who work with teens.

In this episode, Roy explores how the concept of "the one thing" can enhance working with teens and other young people. The notion of "the one thing" suggests that success can be found by applying greater focus and direction towards a singular goal or aspect of a person's life. This idea has circulated in the popular consciousness for some time, including books on business and success like Gary Keller's "The One Thing."

Roy encourages adults who interact with teens to devote themselves to learning what a teen's greatest need or "one thing is" through mindfulness, attention, and presence. Roy then suggests Gary Chapman's "Five Love Languages" ( Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Receiving Gifts, Acts of Service, and Quality Time) can be powerful tools for engaging, loving, and serving teens by recognizing and fulfilling their various needs.

In this episode, Roy explores the sometimes confusing nature of teen personality development. Roy explains that the formative nature of a teenager's personality leads to rapid changes, some of which will seem alarming to adults. At the heart of a teenager's personality is an adaptive quality that is based on various situations and interactions with other people, which Roy says is normal for every teenager and is even something found in adult behavior.

Roy also addresses the hesitance and fear that some adults fear in acknowledging some changes in teens. Roy strongly encourages adults to avoid condescension and patronizing teens and instead offering support through attentive presence and availability.

In this week's episode, Roy explores the differences between logical and relational consequences in disciplining teenagers. While both types of consequences modify behavior, one is ultimately destructive and leads to shame. This shame and its effects are deep and lasting and can result in emotionally and psychologically damaged teens. Roy explains the differences between healthy guilt and shame, which can deeply affect a young person's sense of value and worth.

Roy then offers five tips for administering logical consequences and avoiding emotional and relational consequences. Roy's tips help parents and other adults working with young people to be mindful of their own emotional states in light of a teen's violation of trust and to lovingly yet effectively resolve the situation.

In this episode, Roy welcomes Doug Tooke. Doug is a former youth minister and current international speaker and Executive Director of Reach Youth Ministry. Doug is also the founder of Monarch Ministries, which offers an assortment of areas of youth ministry, family dynamics, and leadership development.

Roy and Doug discuss a variety of topics, including the importance of encouraging authentic and healthy communication among teens and young adults, the importance of teaching young people how to pray, and the resources Doug draws from in his ongoing ministry.

Click here to learn more about Doug and Monarch Ministries, as well as listen to Doug's podcast, Renovo.

In this episode, Roy offers insight into how parents can find a counselor for their teen. Roy first encourages parents to listen to episode 15 of Today's Teeanger or read this blog post, both of which address normal and abnormal teen behavior. These criteria can help assess whether or not a teen's behavior warrants the intervention of a counselor. As Roy explains, finances are an issue for most people looking for mental health care, so he recommends beginning with counselors on one's insurance plan and what mental health services are also covered.

Roy then explains the difference psychologists, counselors, psychotherapists, LPCs (Licensed Professional Counselors), LMFT (Licensed Marriage & Family Therapists), LCSW (Licensed Counselor/Social Workers) and which of these specialists may be best for your family. He also addresses the resistance and fear that some teens will understandably associate with being asked to speak with a mental health professional and ways that parents can comfort and encourage teens to look at counseling as a path towards personal healing and development.

In this episode of Today's Teenager, Roy examines the three needs that every parent has when it comes to caring for their children. Roy explains that these needs don't necessarily apply to caring for other people's children as they do for caring for one's own. A parent's need to provide, protect, and please their children may seem obvious, but are complicated by the new and often unpredictable changes to daily life as a result of a rapidly-changing modern world.

Roy encourages parents to concentrate on the ways they do provide and care for their children rather than feeling anxiety over what they may not be doing. Being active in learning about a young person's interests and culture help to alleviate that anxiety. Roy also looks at how women struggle more with protecting their children and men with providing for them. Finally, Roy offers how powerful spending time with and being present to our children can be in the formative teenage years.

In this episode, Roy explores the five 'hungers' or needs of today's teenagers. These needs are universal to all people, but as Roy explains, they are especially critical for young people during the formative years of adolescent development. Roy further explains how teens will fulfill the void created by unmet needs with anything they can, including unhealthy attachments and abuse. Roy also offers practical strategies for recognizing these needs in young people and how to provide and assist them in fulfilling these needs.